As on the previous occasions of the Tercentenary of Guru Gobind Singh’s
birth and the Quincentenary of that of Guru Nanak, which fell
respectively in 1966 and 1969, so on the recent memorable occasion of
the Tercentenary of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom the Punjabi
University planned a number of literary programmes on the life, work
and teachings of this great Guru. Some of these have already been
completed while others are in progress and are expected to be
accomplished before long. I am, therefore, very happy that this work on
the Hukamnamas of Guru Tegh Bahadur, which is one of our major
projects, has been brought to completion and has seen the light of day.
I heartily congratulate Dr Fauja Singh upon this remarkable
achievement.

The Hukamnamas, being the relics of the great Gurus, are a unique
constituent of our sacred heritage and naturally they evoke the deepest
sentiments of veneration in the hearts of their devotees. From the
linguistic point of view, too, the Hukamnamas have a rare value. But
perhaps their chief importance lies in the highly useful evidence they
provide on historical matters. The Hukamnamas of the Ninth Guru, in
particular, as has been ably brought out by the Editor in his scholarly
Introduction, are an indispensable fresh source for the reconstruction
of the Guru’s life. Being the Gurus writings, they have a significance
of their own, in which respect nothing excels them except the Guru’s
hymns which, of course, are incomparable in enlightening us about the
noble thoughts of the Guru.

Another reason for which I welcome this publication is that
through this for the first time English and Hindi knowing people will
be introduced to these valuable epistles of the Great Master.

I cherish the hope that this step will promote further research on the
subject and at the same time help in disseminating the teachings of
Guru Tegh Bahadur. In another way also, a wider circulation of such
writings stands to serve a useful purpose. The greater the knowledge of
people regarding genuine writings, the lesser will be the possibility
of fake documents being traded by selfish people in the name of the
Guru.

Contents

1

Mul Mantar in Guru Tegh
Bahadur’s own handwriting

43

2

Epistle through Bhai Jawehari to the Congregation of
Benaras

47

3.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Epistle to the Congregation at
Benaras (Varanasi)

51

4.

Epistle to the Congregation of Patna

55

5.

Epistle to the Congregation of Patna

59

6.

Epistle to the Congregation of Patna

63

7.

Epistle to the Congregation of Benaras

67

8.

Epistle to the Congregation of Benaras (Varanasi)

75

9.

Epistle to the Congregation at Benaras (Varanasi)

75

10.

Epistle to the Congregation of Benaras (Varanasi)

79

11.

Epistle to the Congregation of Mirzapur

83

12.

Epistle to the Congregation of Patna, addressed to
Bhai Dayal Das

87

13.

Epistle from Guru Tegh Bahadur to the Congregation
of Benaras (Varanasi) Province

As on the previous occasions of the Tercentenary of Guru Gobind Singh’s
birth and the Quincentenary of that of Guru Nanak, which fell
respectively in 1966 and 1969, so on the recent memorable occasion of
the Tercentenary of Guru Tegh Bahadur’s martyrdom the Punjabi
University planned a number of literary programmes on the life, work
and teachings of this great Guru. Some of these have already been
completed while others are in progress and are expected to be
accomplished before long. I am, therefore, very happy that this work on
the Hukamnamas of Guru Tegh Bahadur, which is one of our major
projects, has been brought to completion and has seen the light of day.
I heartily congratulate Dr Fauja Singh upon this remarkable
achievement.

The Hukamnamas, being the relics of the great Gurus, are a unique
constituent of our sacred heritage and naturally they evoke the deepest
sentiments of veneration in the hearts of their devotees. From the
linguistic point of view, too, the Hukamnamas have a rare value. But
perhaps their chief importance lies in the highly useful evidence they
provide on historical matters. The Hukamnamas of the Ninth Guru, in
particular, as has been ably brought out by the Editor in his scholarly
Introduction, are an indispensable fresh source for the reconstruction
of the Guru’s life. Being the Gurus writings, they have a significance
of their own, in which respect nothing excels them except the Guru’s
hymns which, of course, are incomparable in enlightening us about the
noble thoughts of the Guru.

Another reason for which I welcome this publication is that
through this for the first time English and Hindi knowing people will
be introduced to these valuable epistles of the Great Master.

I cherish the hope that this step will promote further research on the
subject and at the same time help in disseminating the teachings of
Guru Tegh Bahadur. In another way also, a wider circulation of such
writings stands to serve a useful purpose. The greater the knowledge of
people regarding genuine writings, the lesser will be the possibility
of fake documents being traded by selfish people in the name of the
Guru.

Contents

1

Mul Mantar in Guru Tegh
Bahadur’s own handwriting

43

2

Epistle through Bhai Jawehari to the Congregation of
Benaras

47

3.

Guru Tegh Bahadur’s Epistle to the Congregation at
Benaras (Varanasi)

51

4.

Epistle to the Congregation of Patna

55

5.

Epistle to the Congregation of Patna

59

6.

Epistle to the Congregation of Patna

63

7.

Epistle to the Congregation of Benaras

67

8.

Epistle to the Congregation of Benaras (Varanasi)

75

9.

Epistle to the Congregation at Benaras (Varanasi)

75

10.

Epistle to the Congregation of Benaras (Varanasi)

79

11.

Epistle to the Congregation of Mirzapur

83

12.

Epistle to the Congregation of Patna, addressed to
Bhai Dayal Das

87

13.

Epistle from Guru Tegh Bahadur to the Congregation
of Benaras (Varanasi) Province

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